2024-07-03 15:01:52
The participation of our national under-18 volleyball team at the European Championship (July 1-13) in Greece and Romania continues without fail.
On their second day in Heraklion (Crete), our girls prevailed against one of the favorites in Group II – Turkey. The match lasted 1 hour and 47 minutes and we won it 3:1 (25:22, 25:21, 19:25, 25:22).
Kalina Veneva had a great game, finishing with 27 points, but she was mainly credited in the important moments. Today, our young “lionesses” noticeably reduced their mistakes, compared to the first match against Germany, but they cracked more in defense and allowed some light balls to fall into our field.
In all the games, the Turkish team started better, but Antonina Zetova’s selection showed intransigence and a lot of fight in one of our most difficult and important matches of the group stage, and against a traditionally difficult opponent for us.
Zetova kept the starting line-up from the first match.
The match started with a slight advantage for Turkey (2:4), and with errors in both fields. Three points in a row put us ahead and then there was a contested and even game. With a solid block we achieved a turnaround at 21:19. We held onto the fragile lead despite Turkey’s attempts to catch up.
Turkey came into the second game better, improving their opening stroke a bit and tightening their blocking. A strong game by the distributor Dimana Ivanova helped our team reach an 8:8 draw. The Turkinas again managed to draw in the result and Zetova took a break. After him, Kalina Veneva came on strong with two points in a row, and after a good double block of ours, we equalized again at 15:15.
In turn, the Turkish headquarters asked for a timeout. In the following minutes the game went point for point. Our girls rallied at the end. It came to a game ball after a Turkey ball in the out, and with a blockout our fourth consecutive point and the final one for the second game was realized.
The beginning of the third game was similar to the second – with greater concentration on the part of Turkey (2:5). Denitsa Angelova was left alone at the net and reduced the score to 4:5, but we were unable to equalize. The Turks maintained a lead of 2-3 points, and our headquarters asked for a break. There was a relaxation on our side in defense, we let the ball fall more easily in our field and this led for the first time to a more expressive difference in the match.
Turkey gradually increased its lead and it became double digits – 10:20. Despite the difficult moment, we kept a strong spirit and recorded a streak of 4 points in a row. Then we managed to melt at 5 points (16:21), and this caused the Turkish selector to take a timeout. Although we fought, the previously accumulated passive did not allow us to reach a tie and Turkey closed the part at 19:25.
And this period started like any of the previous ones: we had to catch up with the opponent. And we succeeded, although several times they broke away by 3 points. After another one (9:12), our headquarters asked for a break. Again we came within one point and again Turkey pulled away, even with 4 points after the ace (15:19). Zetova took a timeout. Okoro scored two points in a row.
A mistake by the Turks at the reception and again 1 point difference. This time, their HQ used their break. Veneva alone at the net blocked a Turkish attack for the equalizing point – 20:20. Again, she with an easy transfer shot and then a block brought the turnaround for us at 22:21. Turkish coach Rasit Berk Inank uses a timeout.
Kalina Veneva’s criminal action continued even after this break. A double block by us and a point for Naneva followed, which led to a match point. We missed the first opportunity, but on the second Parapunova was flawless on the diagonal.
In today’s match, we recorded 5 aces and 10 blocks, and significantly reduced our errors. Kalina Veneva performed very strongly offensively and finished with 27 points. Nicole Okoro added 11 points, and Denitsa Angelova and Darina Naneva added 10 each.
Our girls won’t have much time to rest. On Wednesday, July 3, at 12:00 p.m. (Bulgarian time), we will face another of the favorites in the stream – Poland. The Poles occupy the leading position in the provisional ranking and are also undefeated so far (two wins from two matches). Bulgaria is in second place (before the match between Germany and the host Greece).